Apparatus for removing excess solder from soldered articles



Nov. 10, 1953 R. G. HALL APPARATUS FOR REMOVING EXCESS SOLDER FROM SOLDERED ARTICLES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 5, 1948 INVENTOR. Roman/0 QTHHL/L Nov. 10, 1953 L 2,658,466

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING EXCESS SOLDER FROM SOLDERED ARTICLES Filed May 5, 1948 4 Sheets-$heet 2 Alma NOV. 10, 1953 HALL 2,658,466

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING EXCESS SOLDER FROM SOLDEIRED ARTICLES Flled May 5, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I N VEN TOR. 220mm a Hall Nov. 10, 1953 R. G. HALL APPARATUS FOR REMOVING EXCESS SOLDER FROM SOLDEIRED ARTICLES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 5, 1948 I N V EN TOR. [FOLL'fi/VD 9T HELL BY HTTGR VE'L in the handles.

Patented Nov. 10, 1953 .,SQL12ER"FRM DEBE RT CLES.

Phonemic. Hall ;Yalesville; C, i11in,=

Wallace Y -& Sons Manutacturing s mmi Company,

Walling ford, Coma, a corporation 7 a V Application M y 5, 1948,8ei-ialldb. 25,138

(01'. in-9T7) l2 Claiins.

.a strip f solder, then extend; thee-shank of the anci nt thehandle and-heat the;la tter from the outside while the :kniie is being held with the blade down, so that =the;n1olten solderwill f ll out the, space between the inserted blade shank; and surrounding portion; of .the handle. Indoing so a. small amount of solder usually escapes from .the handle pastthe. inserted blade shank and deposits on the blade. proper.

lt the primary object of-,,the;present inventiontoprovide apparatus-in which the blades-of soldered knives are subjected; to alfla-meor flames for such a short period of time that only the solder on, the knife blades, will melt, whereupon the melted solder is immediately wiped offthe blades. it-is another importantobject of-;the present invention to render the apparatus fully automatic and continuous in operation, .tothe extent. that an operator need merely place knife after. knife in the apparatus and pay no further attention thereto. a

It is another important object of .the present invention to provide the apparatus with an inte'rmittently indexed chain. conveyor which carries knife; holders that. are successively advanced progressivfely from a loading station to a heating station, thence'past a wipe-off station} and finally over anautomatic ejecting station back to the loading station.

It is another importantobjeetof the pi'ese nt invention to make theknife h'oldersin theform of clamps which are normally yieldinjgly closed on fully, vunderstood froni the following description considered in. connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

h id j ii'wi n. a 1 is: Fig. lis a sidc-elevational view, partlyin' section certai parts in t e p e en npara usr tionro f app aratus "einb odying the present inveni-Eig, sis aifront elevation of the apparatus as viewed in thedirection of the arrow :2;in.Fig. 1:;

Fig; 3 is asside elevation of a part of the. apparatus as viewedin the direction of the arrow 3 in Fig; 4 =ShOWsrthe same. part ofthe apparatus as vieweddn, the direction of the. arrow 4: inFig. 3;,v

.-;."'Fig; 5;;is a view-similar to Fig. 4,,showing'cervtain-parts in diiferent operating positions, however; V a lufEigtfifiSg an enlarged section taken on the line Fig. 7 :15; a section: similar to; Fig. 6, showing different operating positions,

,.-;. ;Fig,.,-8is;a f ,agmentaryi back view, partly, in sectipngp "a knife-adapted to be operated on in ;.-;3Fig;,,9 is a lperspective view=,of thatpart of a n-H8. Daft/blob the present apparatus is to perform; and

iaFi siota 21 v ew at n the dif- .ferent;operations respectively, which are pertmedh he. r s ntap a us, I

ef rr n o the dr w n e: pair-1;:- to;- Fig-... thereof,- the reference numeral 20 des mates, aeonventional type, of table knife for instance, which comprises the usual hollow handle 32 a ds b adesfl av t m ry a k 2 6.; ;which;is inserted into theopen end -28of the handle- 22;; In; acco;rdance with the usual practice; the inserted shank 26 of the blade- 24 is solderedin the handle-522 asat 30. As previously mentioned, the blade 24 is conveniently and effi- .cientlywsoldered to the knife handle '22 by insert- "ingjnto the latter firsta solid strip of solder and then theshank 26-of:the blade 24, whereupon the handle ZQ-issubjectedtb a flame or flames. While thus heating the knife handle 22, the knife is preferably ;heldwith its blade down so that the m l i s me? w l flew and l t e sn tchetween the'inserted blade shank 26 and surroundineiaortion ofthe hollow handle 22 to an extent ,1ike, .or, sim1 lar tp, tha,t shown in Fig. 8. -.llllhile the open end of they knife handle is, just prior to heating of the, 1atter,,custon arily stemmed against e nse e -wa e nk impa -t er 2 Ml-EQ se eehand e h -.-t t on t blade s l ank 2 nevertheless a smalllamounteof vthe rgieltecl solder will usually findits way from t i sixiteri n ts elz e fl pe t e sha k: 2B of the blade 24 and deposit on the latter in a 3 manner like, or similar to, that shown at s in Fig. 9.

The present apparatus is designed to remove this excess solder s from the knife blades. Briefly, the present apparatus performs on a knife blade in the different ways shown in Figs. and 11. Thus, the blade 24 of a knife is, at the heating station of the apparatus, subjected to opposite flames F in the vicinity of the adja cent end of the knife handle 22 (Fig. 10). The flames F will melt any excess solder s on the blade 24, whereupon the knife is quickly advanced so that the heated base portion 24 of the blade 24 passes edgewise between opposite rotary brushes B (Fig. 11) that wipe off any melted solder on the blade 24. In heating the knife blade 24 between the flames F, as explained, the knife is preferably held with its handle down,

so as to prevent any solder that may possibly melt in the handle 22 from running out of the latter. The brushes B, which may be of a fine wire type, are preferably turned in such opposite directions that the adjacent portions of their peripheries move counter to the knife blade 24 on its passage therebetween. Thus, the knife may pass I between the brushes B in the direction of the arrow 32 (Fig. 11), in which case the brushes B would turn in the direction of the arrows 34. In thus turning the brushes B, the same will wipe a passing knife blade 24 clean of any melted solder thereon, even if the knife blade passes at a fairly high rate of speed.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, the present apparatus 40 comprises an upright frame or bracket 42 on which are mounted the brushes B and flame-producing burners b, as well as an endless chain conveyor 44 which carries a plurality of holders 46 for the knives 20. The frame 42 itself may suitably be mounted on any convenient support 48 (Fig. 2). For additional mounting and other purposes, the apparatus further comprises an upright side panel 50 which may be mounted on an overhead extension 52 of the frame 42, through intermediation of spaced angles 54 that extend to the opposite sides of the frame exten sion 52 and are secured thereto as by bolts 56, for instance (Fig. 2). Side panel 50 is shown in dotand-dash outline in Fig. 1 for clearer illustration of the parts normally hidden therebehind. Secured at 58 to the lower end of the side panel 50 is a tank 60 which is also secured at 62 to the frame 42. Thus, the side panel 50 not only participates in the support of the tank 60, but is itself held rigid at its lower end through the interposition between it and the frame 42 of the tank 60.

The brushes B are carried by the lower ends of spindles 64 which, in the present instance, extend vertically upwardly and are journaled in bearing brackets 66 that are preferably slidable to and from each other in a guideway 68 provided in the frame extension 52 (Fig. 1). The bearing brackets 66 may be clamped in any adjusted position in the guideway 68 by any suitable means (not shown). The upper ends of the brush-carrying spindles 64 carry pulleys 10, re-- spectively, over which pass a belt 72 that is driven from a pulley I4 on the shaft 16 of a prime mover, such as an electric motor 18 which is suitably mounted on the frame 42. The belt 12 passes also over a guide pulley 80 which is suitably .iournaled in the frame extension 52, and so located that the single belt I2 may drive the brushes B in the previously described opposite I directions.

7. The sections Each of the burners b comprises a burner tube 86, and a mixing valve 88 of any conventional type, in which a heating gas and air may be mixed in variable proportions, and which may be shut off by a cock 90. Heating gas is conducted from a supply source to each mixing valve 38 through a suitable hose connection 92. The valves 88 may suitably be mounted on the frame 42 and side panel 50, respectively, and their respective burner tubes 86 extend into fairly close proximity to each other, as shown in Fig. 2.

The chain conveyor 44 comprises an endless chain I00 which passes over sprocket wheels I02, I04 and I06 that may be of identical size. The sprocket wheels I02 and I04 may be journaled on bushings I08 (Fig. 2) which surround headed studs IIO, having threaded shanks II2 that extend through the frame 42 and receive nuts II4 for the secure mounting of the studs II6 on the frame 42. Preferably, the mounting stud II 0' for the sprocket wheel I04, is as indicated in Fig. 1, adjustable in an elongated slot I I 6 for the purpose of taking up slack in the chain I00. The sprocket wheel I06 is mounted with its hub II8 on a headed stud I20, which is journaled in a bushing I22 in a boss I24 of the frame 42 and carries at its outer end a ratchet disc I26 with which cooperates a pawl I28, pivotally carried at I30 on a pawl carrier I32 that may suitably be journaled on the boss I 34 of the ratchet disc I26. A bolt I 35 may threadedly be received in the outer end of the stud I 20 for the secure mounting of the latter in the frame 42 and the' retention on the stud I20 of the parts I06, I26 and I32. Pivotally connected at I 38 with the pawl carrier I32 is one end of a link I40 which may be connected at its other end with any suitable, periodically power-driven means such as a crank (not shown), that imparts reciprocatory motion to the link I40. The pawl I28 is arranged to index the sprocket wheel I06 so that the conveyor chain I00 is advanced in the direction of the arrow I42 in Fig. 1 during each return stroke of the link I40 in the direction of the arrow I44. In order to prevent overrunning of the conveyor chain I00, there is preferably provided a permanently acting band-type brake I46 which embraces the hub I I8 of the sprocket wheel I06.

The knife holders 46, which are identical in construction and carried by the conveyor chain I00 at equally spaced intervals, are made in the form of clamps shown best in Figs. 3 to 7, inclusive. Thus, each knife holder 46 comprises two clamp sections I50 and I 52 of which the P former is suitably secured, as by screws I54, to a lateral flange I56 of a special link I58 of the con veyor chain I 00. The clamp section I52 is pivated at I60 to spaced ears I62 of the companion section I50, and both sections I 50 and I52 are provided with oppositely curved clamping sur\ faces I64 with which to clamp the handle 22 of a knife 20 in the fashion best shown in Figs. 5 and I50 and I 52 of each holder 46 are normally urged into clamping engagement with an interposed knife handle 22 by means of a compression spring I66 which is seated in opposite recesses I68 in the clamp sections, respectively. The clamping surfaces I64 of the sections I50 and I52 of each holder 46 are made such that a knife 20 clamped therebetween extends with its blade 24 edgewise in the direction of movement of the conveyor chain (Figs. 1 and 5).

Provisions are also made automatically to open the clamp sections of each knife holder 46 to permit the gravity discharge of a knife therefrom accesses at an ejecting stat-1on3 F 2);;8 ftflii hQ has, on 'jea'ch' cycle-of movement in-thdapparatus,

passed-through the heating and-wipe-ofi; stations H and W,respectively, and before-the same reaches the loading sta tion L of-theqapparatus,

, and to hold the iclarnp sections open dur n t holders passage from the ejecting station E. to the loading-station L, Furtherprovisicns;are;also made to permit the clamp sections ofreach holder 46'to close at the loading station L on therplacement. therein of the handle 22 of-a knife 1'20. Thus, there is suitably mounted onthednner-side of the side 'panel 50 a wedge-shaped :ca'm H (Figs. Sand 4) toiwhieh islpivotedat lrl2=avcam extension I14, normally urged, by a spring I16 into the projected position shown in Fig. '4,'and depressible against the spring-I I6 {in the *fashion shownin Fig, 5. The sideipanel ifl is=recessed at I18 (Figs. 1, 3 and in ordertqpermlttlieidescribed depression of the ,cam extension I :14 :into the position showndn Fig.5. The-clamp'setioh I 52 of each knife holder 46 carries a follower!!! in the form of 'a roller which-"on nioveinent-ofthe holder past the cam I'Ill, ascends on'thedatter and thereby opens the clamp sections *Iiland :I52 at the ejecting-station E of the apparatus, permitting the knife in the holder to drop. therefrom. The cam extension I14 i-s'normally.locked in the projected position, shown in Fig.4, by latching means hereinafter described, so that the clamp sections I50 and 152 of each .holder546 will remain open during movement of the latter from the ejecting station. E to the loading station L (Fig. 4).

Recourse may be hadto any expediency to prevent the ejected knives from dropping into the tank 6!]. Thus, there may suitably bemounted on the sidepanel 50 a chute 84 '(Fig. 2) to which may be pivoted at I86 a chute extension I88 that normally extends through a recess 190 in the side panel 50 into the dot and' dash line position shown in 'Fig. 2 in which to guide any knife dropping from a holder 46 at the ejectingstation-E into the chute I84. The chute extension .189 is preferably spring-urged into the normal 'dot an'd dash line position shown in Fig. -2, in order to be depressible by a passing holder 46 mm the full-line position shown in the same figure.

The latch means previously referred to cornprises a latch I92 which is slidable on the side panel 59 transversely of the c'am extension I14. Latch I92 is guided for sliding movement ina guide member I94 which may suitably be secured to the side panel 50. The lock end I 96 of the latch I92 is undercut at opposite sides so as to be re- 2m which is of the same width as the l'a'th hd I95, and is in alignment with the lattei' -tvlie'n the cam extension I" is in thepr'ojected position shown in Figs. 4 and 6. Thus, it is only the lock end I96 of the latch I92 that may enter the groove 2I0 in the cam extension I14, the opposite shoulders I98 on the latch preventing movement of the latter into the groove 2 I0 ofthe cam extension beyond theposition .shown in Fig. 6.

The clamp section ISQcf each-knife holder. .46

'6 carriestwo spaced, rearwardly extending rods 2 I 4 on whiehea yieldingstop member ZIGfiS slidable. I11 nmemh r 15 s no a l u edbya' spring --2 -I8 ;i-nto the-advanced position shownin -6, in which it bears against a cross pin 229 in; one ofxthe-rods 2I4. The spring 2I8 issuitably anchored ,Wltl'lfitS ends :to the clamp section I 59 and stop; nember 2J6 respectively. The stop -membe1 2| 6 is provi ded with a wlaterally-i extending lug 222 which is preferab-ly apertured at :224, :and adaptedto be engaged bythe .end-of a knife handle being inserted lengthwise between the open clampsections 'I5Il and I52 of the holder at the I loading, station -L, whereby the-stop:member 216 is disposed from it radvanced position :"into the position shown -in;Fig. 7. While the .stop member 216 of the-holder"46 at the'loadingstation-L isthusdepressed by' an inserted knife hand1e 22, the jug 222 of 'thestopgmemberengages'a dateral -extensiongnfl oi the latch 11:92 and retracts the'latterfrom locking relation with the camextension I514 (-Figs. 5 and '7) Retractionof the latch I-92from-locking relation withthe cam extension II4 wil1 result in immediate closure'o'f the-adjacent holder 46 "and depressionof thecam extension fill-into the position, shown in Fig. '5, because the closing force :of :the spring F66 of each holder is greater than the :force of the spring I16 that urges the cam extension I 74 into the projected position shown in Fig; 4. The lug 222 of the stop member 2I'6 of each holder 46 is preferablyprovided with deflectors .I TI that guide a knife blade being inserted against the lug 222, and-prevent its crooked insertion to the extent where it would directly engage and depress the latch I92. The 1ug.:222 and roller I'BD of any holder at the loading station L are preferably so coordinated with the latch extension 228 and cam extension I14, respectively, that on the next indexing step of the holder from the loading station in the direction of the arrow 2.30 in Fig. 5, the lug 222 will keep the-latch I92 depressed until after the roller I on the holder has advanced beyond the cam extension I74 and the latter has spring-returned into theproje'ct'ed position. In

, thiswise, the return ofthe camjex'tension into projected positionisnot obstructed by any contact wtih the spring-urged latch I92, as will-be read ly understood; The'st'op member 2 I 6 of each holder 46; will remain in thejdep'ressed position shown in Fig. 7-, after theholder is spring-closed .onan inserted knife handleon unlatching the cam extension I -I4 -as-described, because the spring force with whichthe stop member 2H; is urged into its advanced position is Weaker than the force with'which the inserted knife handle -1s clamped-in the holder by the spring 'I 66 thereof. Thus; each holder 46 is, on being indexed into the loading position L,,automatically openedat the ejecting station E, and remains open for the remainder of the indexing step, the cam extension I-I4-being at-that time locked in its projected position by the latch I92. 7 However, on in- I sertion of aknifehandle 22 into an open holder 46st the loading station L, the cam extension H4 i unlatched and the holder is permitted to spring close on the-inserted knife handle. Final- ,jy, the cam extension I74 is returned to its projected Position and locked by the latch I92 before the next holder 46 will move into cooperative relation therewith;

Macaw operatic of the appardtiz-s :Assumin'g-that the burners b arelight'e'd, the brushes B are drivenby member I8, and the chain conveyor 44 is periodically indexed through steps which are equal in length to the distance between consecutive holders 46, an operator will insert in the previously explained manner the handle 22 of a knife 20 into each holder 46 when the same stops intermittently at the loading station L. This is the only task required of the operator. Each holder 46 comes to an intermittent stop at the heating station H at which the flames F from the burners 1), during a flash heating operation, sweep the blade of the inserted knife and melt any excess solder s that may be deposited on the blade. On the next indexing step of the chain conveyor 44, the knife presently at the heating station H is advanced so that its blade passes edgewise between the rotary brushes B which wipe off the molten solder on the blade. The blades 24 of the knives on the chain conveyor 44 pass through any suitable cooling liquid l in the tank 60 before they reach the ejecting station E where they are released from their respective holders and gravitate from the apparatus through the chute 84 as described.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that various changes may be made in the present invention without departing from the underlying idea or principles of the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of an endless conveyor, equally spaced clamps carried by said conveyor, mechanism for intermittently indexing said conveyor to bring successive clamps from an ejecting station to a loading station on successive indexing steps, respectively, of said conveyor, each clamp comprising complementary sections, one of said sections being mounted on the conveyor and the other section being pivotally mounted on said first mentioned section, spring means interengaging said sections and biasing said other section into closing relation with said first mentioned section, a follower on said other section, a fixed cam at said ejecting station cooperating with the follower of a passing clamp moving toward said loading station to open said clamp, a cam extension provided on said fixed cam at said loading station, spring means normally biasing said cam extension into a projected position in which to cooperate with the follower of a passing clamp to hold the latter open on its movement into said loading station, a latch provided with spring means to normally bias said latch into positions to lock said cam extension against being depressed from its projected position by the closing bias of a passing open clamp, said closing bias being greater than said cam bias, and means provided on each clamp for operation by an article placed in an open clamp at said loading station, said article-operated means being operable upon said latch means for retracting said latch from looking relation with said cam extension.

2. The combination, as set forth in claim 1, in which said article-operated means comprises a member movably carried by said'one section of each clamp.

3. The combination, as set forth in claim 1, in which said conveyor comprises sprockets and a chain passing over said sprockets and said one section of each clam having a portion forming a regular link of said chain.

4. In apparatus for removing excess solder from the blades of knives having handles, said apparatus having a flame-producing burner at a first station and a pair of rotating brushes at a second station, the combination of an endless conveyor, equally spaced holders provided on said conveyor for releasably retaining the handles of said knives, mechanism for intermittently indexing said conveyor through step-wise movements equal to the distance between consecutive holders whereby a holder is always in position at said first station to subject its knife blade to the flames of said burner for a flash-heating operation during each intermittent rest period of said conveyor, said mechanism including means to index the conveyor with rest periods such that only the excess solder is melted by said burner, and each of said step-wise movements of said conveyor being of a greater length than the distance between said stations longitudinally of said conveyor so that a knife clamped in a holder positioned at said first station passes between the brushes and beyond said second station during the next step-wise movement of said conveyor.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4, in which said holders have means to carry the knives by their handles, said conveyor and holders being so arranged that the blades of the knives extend substantially vertically upwardly from their handles in the holders when the latter pass through said stations, and said brushes turn about substantially vertical axes in such opposite directions that the adjacent portions of their peripheries move counter to a passing knife blade.

6. In apparatus for removing excess solder from the blades of knives having handles, said apparatus having a flame-producing burner at a first station and a pair of rotating brushes at a second station, the combination of an endless conveyor, equally spaced holders provided on said conveyor for releasably retaining the handles of said knives, mechanism for intermittently indexing said conveyor through step-wise movements equal to the distance between consecutive operation during each intermittent rest period of said conveyor, said mechanism including means to index the conveyor with rest periods such that only the excess solder is melted by said burner, and each of said step-wise movements of said conveyor being of a greater length than the distance between said stations longitudinally of said conveyor so that a knife clamped in a holder positioned at said first station passes between the brushes and beyond said second station during the next step-wise movement of said conveyor, said indexing means including a member mounted for reciprocation, said mechanism operating through an indexing step thereof in response to the movement of said member in a first direction and said rest periods being determined by the movement of said member in an opposite direction.

7. In apparatus for removing excess solder from the blades of knives having handles, said apparatus having a loading station, a flame-producing burner at a second station and a pair of rotating brushes at a third station, the combination of an endless conveyor, equally spaced holders provided on said conveyor for releasably retaining the handles of said knives, mechanism for intermittently indexing said conveyor ass-sass through-step Wise movements equal to the-dis 'tance. betweenconsecutive" holders whereby holders are'always'in' position at said loading'station and'saidsecondstationj' respectively, for subj ecting the knife "blade in the "holder at said second station to'the'flamesof said burner for a fiash heating" operation" during each intermittent rest period of"saidconveyor,"said mechanism including" means 'to' index the 'conveyorwit'h rest periods such thatpnly'the'exce'ss solder i's melted by said burner, and'each'of said step wise movements .of said 'conveyor "being of a greater length than the distance 'betweensaid'second andthir'd stations longitudinallywf said co'nveyo'r so that a knife clamped "ina holder "positioned at'sai'd second station passes between the brushes and beyond said third station during the next step wise movement of said conveyor.

8. In apparatus for removing excess solder from the blades of knives having handles, said apparatus having a loading station, a flameproducing burner at a second station and a pair or" rotating brushes at a third station, the combination of an endless conveyor, equally spaced holders provided on said conveyor for releasably retaining the handles of said knives, mechanism for intermittently indexing said conveyor through step Wise movements equal to th distance between consecutive holders whereby holders are always in position at said loading station and said second station, respectively, for subjecting the knife blade in the holder at said second station to the flames of said burner for a flashheating operation during each intermittent rest period of said conveyor, said mechanism including means to index the conveyor with rest periods such that only the excess solder is melted by said burner, and each of said step wise movements of said conveyor being of a greater length than the distance between said second and third stations longitudinally of said conveyor so that a knife clamped in a holder positioned at said second station passes between the brushes and beyond said third station during the next step wise movement of said conveyor, said holders being clamps carried on said conveyor, means provided on said clamps to normally yieldingly close on a knife handle inserted therein at said loading station, an ejecting station provided on said apparatus prior to said loading station in the direction of movement of said conveyor, means normally opening each clamp on movement of the latter into said ejecting station, and means at said loading station to retain the clamps in open condition upon movement thereof from said ejecting station said latter means being operatively responsive to the insertion of a knife handle into an open clamp at said loading station to release the latter clamp for closure upon the knife handle.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 in which said latter means comprise a cam movable between operative and inoperative positions thereof and spring means to bias said cam into operative position thereof in which it is in the path of each clamp moving from said ejecting station into said loading station, latch means including spring means to bias said latch into position to lock said cam against movement from its operativ position by the closing bias of an engaging open clamp, said closing bias being greater than said cam bias, and article-operated means mounted for movement by a knife handle being placed in an open clamp at said loading station for retractto a projected position into the in}; said"latch*from locking'relation'with said cam;

10: Apparatus as set forth in' claim a in which said latterrneans comprise a cam movable be tween operative'and' inoperative positions thereof and'spring means to bias saidcam into operative position thereof in'whichit is in the path of each clamp movin rron'i said'eje'cting station into said loading station, latch means including spring means "to bias Said latch into position to'lock said. camagainst' movementfrom its operative posi tion'fbytheplosing biasof an engaging open clamp; saidclosin'gbias being greater than said cam bias, and article-operated means mounted for movementbya'knif handle being placed in an open clamp at said loading station for retracting said" latch from looking relation with said cam, saidlatch having a part disposed for engagement by said article-operated means for retracting saidlatch from said locking relation with said cam.

11. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of an endless conveyor, equally spaced clamps carried by said conveyor, spring means provided on each clamp to normally resiliently bias the latter to close on an article placed therein, mechanism for intermittently indexing said conveyor to bring successive clamps from an ejecting station to a loading station on successive indexing steps, respectively, of said conveyor, clamp-opener means operable to open each clamp upon movement thereof into said ejecting station, clamp-engaging means at said loading station normally biased from a retracted position to a projected position into the path of movement of each clamp moving from said ejecting station to said loading station and disposed to engage each clamp as it moves from the ejectmg station to retain the latter in the open condition thereof, latch means at said loading station normally biased into position to releasably lock said clamp-engaging means in said projected position thereof from movement of the latter to its retracted position by said closing bias of the clamp in position at said loading station, and means provided on each clamp for operation by an article placed in an open clamp at said loading station, said article-operated means being operable upon said latch means for retracting said latch means from locking relation with said clamp engaging means, whereby said spring means on each clamp is effective to close the clamp upon an article placed therein at said loading station.

12. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of an endless conveyor, equally spaced clamps carried by said conveyor, spring means provided on each clamp to normally resilientlybias the latter to close on an article placed therein, mechanism for intermittently indexing said conveyor to bring successive clamps from an ejecting station to a loading station on successive indexing steps, respectively, of said conveyor, clamp-opener means operable to open each clamp upon movement thereof into said ejecting station, clamp-engaging means at said loading station normally biased from a retracted position path of movement of each clamp moving from said ejecting station to said loading station and disposed to engage each clamp as it moves from the ejecting station to retain the latter in the open condition thereof, latch means at said loading station normally biased into position to releasably lock saidclamp-engaging means in said projected position thereof from movement of the latter to its retracted position by said closing bias of the clamp in position at said loading station, and

means provided on each clamp for operation by an article placed in an open clamp at said loading station, said article-operated means being operable upon said latch means for retracting said latch means from locking relation with said clamp engaging means, whereby said spring means on each clamp is effective to close the clamp upon an article placed therein at said loading station, said latch having a part disposed for engagement by said article-operated means for retracting said latch from looking relation with said clamp-engaging means.

ROLLAND G. HALL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number 12 Name Date Patterson July 23, 1895 Ayers June 26, 1900 Williams June 10, 1902 Krummel Sept. 14, 1909 Eberhart; Apr. 20, 1915 Bracy Jan. 14, 1919 Arnold May 5, 1925 Kohler Oct. 18, 1927 Ekvall Nov. 22, 1927 Hagen Oct. 9, 1928 Cameron Oct. 4, 1938 Goebel Aug. 5, 1941 Hansen June 11, 1946 Leece July 21, 1953 

